Former Senator John Warner to speak at UCCS

Former Sen. John Warner, R- Va., who is also a former secretary of the Navy and was chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, will speak at 3 p.m. Oct. 13 in the University Center Theater.

Warner will be joined by Phyllis Cuttino, U.S. director of global warming, Pew Environment Group, Jim Pocock, professor of civil and environmental engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, and David Havlick, assistant professor, Geography and Environmental Studies. A panel discussion is planned for a program titled “The National Security Implications of Climate Change.”

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend. Seating is limited.

In recent media interviews, Warner said the issue of climate change is not limited to the concerns of environmentalists and that the U.S. military is doing extensive research that includes the impact of global warming. Because natural disasters such as droughts, tsunamis and floods often require the intervention of U.S. military personnel, national security becomes involved. By telling voters that their sons or daughters or next-door neighbors may be sent out on a military mission prompted by climate changes, he said he hopes to make them aware of the urgency in addressing environmental issues.

Warner testified to Congress three times about global warming and national security and plans to do so a fourth time this fall. On the road, he does radio interviews, meets with students and civic leaders, participates in forums, and makes appearances like the one scheduled at UCCS.

Warner has expressed concern that drought, famine, floods and other consequences of global warming will be worst in politically or economically unstable regions. Possibilities include toppled governments, terrorist activity, island nations threatened by rising seas, damage to U.S. military installations in coastal areas, and increased military and humanitarian demands on U.S. forces.

The Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate is an initiative of the Pew Environment Group, the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving public policy. The project is dedicated to highlighting the linkages between national security, energy independence, the economy and climate change.

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